Josephine Lawson Physiotherapy Clinic - Summer 2006 Newsletter - Issue No. 12

Sports Massage Therapy With Claire Litherland

  Mondays - 9.00am - 5.00pm

  Thursdays - 1.30pm - 6.30pm

  30 Minutes - £30.00 /  1 Hour - £50.00

London College of Massage (LCM)
Diploma in Practioners Massage
Diploma in Anatomy & Physiology
Deep Tissue Massage
For prices & to book appointments for both of the above
please telephone our reception on: 020 7488 4924

Can I Keep Training Now That I Am Pregnant?

  Over the years there has been some controversy regarding exercise during pregnancy. Below are some of the theories that have been   raised as to why exercise may result in physiologic and metabolic changes in the foetus, and the research that disputes these theories.   

  Increased Temperature - In non-pregnant exercising women, core body temperature may be raised to ~39.2°C. Originally, this   rise in temperature was thought to be responsible for neural tube defects e.g spina bifida. Research has shown that this increase in   core temperature is not likely to be sufficient to cause defects (protein is said to denature at 40°C)..

  Uterine Blood Flow - a reduction in blood flow occurs during exercise. The concern with this phenomenon was that there may be   a reduction in the uterine or umbilical artery blood flow which would result in a decrease in oxygen and nutrients to the foetus. This was   disputed by further research that found no changes in either the uterine or umbilical blood flow (as the mother’s blood volume is   increased during pregnancy).

 Foetal Distress During Exercise - Distress is monitored using foetal heart rate tracings. Some studies maintain that foetal   tachycardia (increased heart rate) and others claim that bradycardia (decreased heart rate) results post maternal exercise. Tachycardia   may be due to the foetus’ response to the increased catecholamine levels in the exercising mother rather than a stress response.   Bradycardia (resolving within ~2 mins) is not thought to cause foetal hypoxia.

 Foetal Nutrient Supply - So long as the pregnant woman has adequate nutritional intake, there should not be any compromise   to the foetus. There was some concern as to the reduced glucose available to the foetus during and post exercise.

 Foetal Size Postpartum - Infants born of exercising women who ate a high carbohydrate diet (elevating 24 hour blood glucose   levels) are large at birth. There is evidence to suggest that that the babies of women doing a high volume of exercise in mid and late   pregnancy (post 20th week) were significantly lighter and thinner (8.3% fat vs 12.1% fat) than the offspring of women who reduced their   exercise volume.

 Preterm Labour - It was found that Leisure-time exercise, in the first and second trimesters, had a protective effect on preterm   delivery.

  N.B Always check with your G.P and Physio prior to commencing exercise during pregnancy.

   By Joanne Pitman - Physiotherapist

Tennis Elbow

Lateral epicondylitis, a painful often chronic condition, felt over the outside of the elbow often extending down the forearm, aggravated by actions involving the wrist and elbow, such as backhand stroke in tennis. It is caused by overuse or misuse of the muscles of the forearm.

With regards to tennis, it usually occurs as a result of poor backhand technique or incorrect grip of the racket.

It can also occur as a result of long periods of mouse and keyboard work at the computer, due to poor positioning of the arm when using the mouse. The forearm should be resting, comfortably, on the desk.

Healing is quicker with early appropriate intervention. Rest will obviously help the acute phase, but frequently the pain returns when the arm is used again in the same way. Physiotherapy will help in preventing this reoccurrence.

Treatment is directed at reduction of inflammation and restoration of painfree function:

  • Rest
  • Corticosteroid injections can be used to reduce inflammation but should be followed by physiotherapy:
  • Acupuncture and/or ultrasound to reduce inflammation
  • Exercises to restore muscle strength and function of the elbow and wrist
  • Awareness of the cause, action taken to remove or change the cause, eg, check grip on tennis racket, or alter position of the mouse so that it is close, thereby relaxing the forearm.

Tennis Tips

  • Check racket grip size – there should be a thumb's width between the thumb and the tips of the fingers.
  • Do not grip the racket hard.
  • Good backhand grip and swing will prevent jabbing and therefore less impact at the elbow.
  • Stretch before playing – elbow straight and flex wrist backwards and forwards.
By Josephine Lawson – Physiotherapist

Rowing Styles

Whether you are Sir Steven Redgrave or your average gym goer the indoor rowing machine (erg) can be very useful as either a warm-up or a workout on it’s own. Unfortunately, as with any piece of gym equipment if not used correctly can lead to   injury, especially the lower back. Even at the elite rowing level the   rowing stroke is broken up into 3 phases. Correct rowing technique   can considerably reduce your chance of getting injured

  Rowing Stroke: Basic Technique

  Catch Phase Knees fully bent so you are at the front of the slider.   Back as straight as possible without being uncomfortable.

  Drive Phase Push with your legs only. Keep arms straight until legs   nearly flat. Lean back with your body then pull the handle to your rib   cage.

  Recovery Phase Push your hands away from your body and slide   up the slide to the ‘entch’. This basic technique should help your   fitness and decrease chance of injury.

  Happy Rowing!

  By Darryl Reid – Physiotherapist
  (Physiotherapist with the New Zealand Rowing Team)